1997-02-22 Michael Loewe w pts 12 Santiago Samaniego, Wandsbek Sports Hall, Hamburg, Germany - WBO. Referee: Genaro Rodriguez. Scorecards: 114-113, 117-110, 116-112. Fighting for the title taken away from Jose Luis Lopez, Loewe (145½), the 1987 amateur world junior champion, came up against a tough, awkward customer in Samaniego (145), eventually winning on points after being badly cut up from repeated head clashes. Lacking the power to stop Samaniego in his tracks did not help Loewe’s cause as the Panamanian constantly charged forward. The latter also had points deducted for low blows. Despite having height-and-reach advantages, and using the left jab well, Loewe was caught over the top more than he would have wished, but after losing two of the opening three rounds he gradually began to accrue the points required. There were no knockdowns.